The Nuggets Game-Winning Air Ball was Reminiscent to NC State’s ‘83 National Championship

With the game tied 99-99 with the clock ticking to zero last night, Denver’s Nikola Jokic shot a spinning three-point attempt that flew over the rim…into the hands of Aaron Gordon, who slammed it through the basket as the horn blew.

The result was a 101-99 Nuggets win over the Clippers, tying the series 2-2 in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

The air ball turned to buzzer beating alley oop dunk, was one of the best buzzer beaters you’ll ever see.

In fact, many took to the airwaves to say it was the best air ball ever.

NC State fans would beg to differ.

The greatest air ball – alley oop of all time was on April 4th, 1983. NC State’s Dereck Whittenburg heaved a shot from near the circle at half court, which fell short of the rim…perfectly into the hands of Lorenzo Charles who was hanging in the air, who flushed it through the basket, propelling the Wolfpack to one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Houston 54-52, giving NC State their 2nd National Championship in school history.

Aaron Gordon must have seen the highlight of the Cardiac Pack’a miracle shot. It plays over and over again every NCAA Tournament.

The shot last night was spectacular, but it wasn’t the greatest air ball of all time.

It just resembled the greatest of all time.